📝 Meeting Summary

What an energizing autumn evening! Our hybrid meeting brought together members both in-person at Nakahara Civic Hall and online, creating a warm atmosphere where we could truly “harvest” insights from each other’s experiences. With nearly full attendance – including members who usually can only join online making the trip to attend in person – this became a truly memorable and special meeting! The room buzzed with excitement as members shared stories ranging from Universal Studios Japan adventures to international business trips, perfectly embodying the diverse backgrounds that make our club special.

🎉 Opening & Recent Updates

TM S. opened the meeting as Toastmaster of the Evening, welcoming our guest and setting a welcoming tone for the evening. Members shared fascinating recent experiences – TM S. recounted his family’s thrilling visit to Universal Studios Japan (securing tickets was quite the challenge!), while TM A. described her refreshing business trip to the Shonai area of Yamagata Prefecture, where the seaside atmosphere provided a peaceful escape. TM A. returned from a memorable six-week vacation to India attending her cousin’s wedding after 12 years, and TM M. celebrated the Yokohama DeNA BayStars clinching the Pacific League Championship. The energy in the room was palpable as TM T. shared his recent return from a business trip to the UK, including an inspiring visit to a London Toastmasters club with about 70 members!

🗣 Table Topics Session

Table Topics Master: TM S.

The evening’s Table Topics session explored fascinating questions about stereotypes and daily habits, challenging us to think critically about conventional wisdom. TM S. crafted thought-provoking questions that had everyone reconsidering what they thought they knew.

One standout moment came when TM M. shared her balanced perspective on snacking. Rather than viewing it strictly as a bad habit, she emphasized the importance of moderation, especially when educating her six-year-old son. Her thoughtful approach – allowing desserts once a day to prevent future health issues while still enjoying life’s pleasures – resonated with everyone in the room, perfectly balancing health consciousness with practical parenting wisdom.

🎙 Prepared Speech Session

1st Speaker: “Let’s Go Back to the Drawing Board” – TM A.

TM A. delivered a heartfelt speech about overcoming childhood inferiority complexes related to English communication. Her story of feeling inadequate compared to internationally-educated cousins touched everyone’s hearts. The turning point came during her recent trip to India, where she discovered she could communicate naturally in English – and even found out her uncle had been a Toastmaster for 25 years! This two-hour conversation about Toastmasters became the “harvest” that helped her realize how far she’d come. Her genuine emotion and relatable struggle reminded us all why we’re here: to grow together.

2nd Speaker: “Why Kendo? Because It’s Kendo” – TM K.

TM K. took us on an enlightening journey into the world of Kendo, explaining why this martial art captivates 2.2 million practitioners worldwide. She masterfully contrasted Kendo’s philosophical roots in samurai culture with typical sports, emphasizing that Kendo prioritizes personal development over winning. Her explanation of unique Kendo principles – like how celebrating too enthusiastically after scoring can actually cancel your point – fascinated everyone. The revelation that Kendo practitioners range from 3 to over 100 years old perfectly illustrated why she’s been practicing for nearly 10 years. Her passion was infectious!

🔍 Evaluation & Feedback

Evaluator 1: TM T.
Provided thoughtful feedback on TM A.’s speech, praising the moving narrative while suggesting more details about the actual conversation with her uncle would strengthen the story’s impact.

Evaluator 2: TM M.
Gave TM K. constructive evaluation, commending the clear structure and excellent delivery while recommending the inclusion of personal Kendo experiences to make the speech even more compelling.

General Evaluator: TM A.
Conducted her first general evaluation with impressive thoroughness, acknowledging the smooth meeting flow and highlighting both evaluators’ strengths while providing helpful grammatical insights about articles and verb usage.

🏆 Awards

• Best Table Topics Speaker: TM M.
• Best Prepared Speaker: TM K.
• Best Evaluator: (Tie between both evaluators)

🚀 Interested?